Misconception (Coming Home)

“Yes. Just stepping back, or I’ll eat the entire box.” It’s not a complete lie. Margaret’s homemade glazed donuts are something to be cherished and maybe even given their own national holiday. They’re that good.

However, today they don’t seem to be agreeing with me. I don’t let myself think about why that might be. Instead, I turn and head toward my station and pretend to be really busy setting up for Margaret’s cut and style. I take longer than I need to, facing away from the desk, slowly taking deep breaths to calm my stomach. When I think I have it under control, I turn to Margaret and offer her a big smile. “Are you ready?” I ask, holding up a cape.

“You didn’t eat a donut.” She sticks her bottom lip out in a pout.

“Oh, I will. Trust me. I had a huge blueberry muffin this morning, but one of those has my name all over it later.”

“Well, we better put these in the back.” She closes the box and starts toward me.

I don’t know if my sister can read the panic on my face or if she just wants to sneak another for herself, but she saves me when she says. “I’ll take them to the back. My first client isn’t here yet.” She takes the box from Margaret and disappears into our small break room.

“Let’s get you washed. Are we just doing a trim today?” I ask.

“Yes. I have been thinking about doing something a little different with the color. Maybe some highlights?”

“Sure, we can do that. I don’t have time in my schedule to do that today, but when you leave, we can make sure to add some extra time to your next appointment.”

“Are you mixing things up, Margaret?” Raven asks, taking a seat in her salon chair as she looks at her wrist, waiting for her first client to show up.

“We were just talking about highlights,” Margaret tells her.

“Oh, I can see it.” Raven nods. “Officer Bennington will go broke. He’s almost there as it is,” Raven teases.

I glance down at Margaret, who just sat in the chair to have her hair washed. I fasten the cape around her neck and adjust it to make sure she’s covered before asking her to lie back. Her face is flushed, and I grin.

“Oh, hush.” Margaret waves her hand in the air. Her eyes are closed as she rests her head back in the bowl.

“Oh, so there is something there?” my sister jokes.

Margaret is in her early thirties, with long auburn hair and brown eyes. It’s no secret that Officer Bennington is interested, and it’s no surprise either. Margaret, who is wise beyond her years, is beautiful. She could have been a model, but she loved baking with her grandma, who’s also a Margaret. When her grandma was ready to retire from the bakery, she took over and never looked back.

“He’s a nice guy,” Margaret defends.

“Oh, we know,” I tell her with a laugh.

“Hair, Riley,” she mock scolds me, which causes Raven and me to dissolve into laughter. I have to stop letting the wand fall into the sink before I soak us both with water. I’m laughing so hard.

“Yes, ma’am,” I finally say when I’ve composed myself. “So just a trim,” I say to get us back on track.

“Yes. That’s good for today.”

“And next time, the highlights. I’m sure Officer Bennington will love them on you,” Raven taunts.

Margaret pulls open one eye, squinting at my sister, still sitting in her chair across the room. “Do you not have clients?” she huffs. There is no heat in her tone. She knows it’s all in good fun.

“So far he’s a no-show.”

“Oh, so we can talk about you then.” Margaret wiggles a little in the chair. “Have you heard from Clayton or Hudson?” Margaret asks. Her eyes are still closed, so she doesn’t see me flinch at the sound of his name. I just hope my sister wasn’t paying close enough attention to see it either.

“I got a letter from both of them the other day. I sent them both one the day after they left, and it took three weeks to get to them. I got mine yesterday, and they were dated for two weeks ago, so not so bad.”

“How are they?” Margaret asks.

I hang on to every word shared between the two of them. I even slow my shampoo and conditioning process and give Margaret a little longer massage of her scalp just so that I can listen to them.

“Good. They’re working a ton of hours. I guess they hiked to a waterfall that they both said was breathtaking. It sounds really beautiful where they are.”

“And how long are they going to be gone?”

“Hudson committed to a year, and Clayton two years.” There’s a small change in my sister’s tone, and I know she misses them both. She and Hudson have a special bond, and well, she and Clayton kind of do too. They have this weird “we’re into each other, but not doing anything about it” thing that they do. It’s confusing as well, but by this point, we’re all used to it. Hell, the entire town is used to it.